La Unión in Tres Ríos, Cartago, hosted its annual Good Friday procession, drawing more than 500 faithful from across the Central Valley. Organized by the local parish of Jesús Nazareno and supported by traditional confradías, the march began promptly at 6 a.m. beneath overcast skies. Participants clad in penitential robes and carrying life‑size wooden statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary wound their way from the church’s forecourt along Avenida Central, stopping at each of the fourteen Stations of the Cross.
Along the two‑kilometer route, incense mingled with the tolling of hand‑carved church bells, providing a solemn sound to prayers and hymns led by Father Rodrigo Vargas, who said “This procession is both our inheritance and our offering—rooted in devotion, it unites families, visitors and neighbors in shared witness.”
As the sun set, with flickering lanterns and lantern‑lit banners, the final float depicting the entombment of Christ arrived back at the plaza, where hundreds stood in silence. Local mayor Silvia Hernández joined parishioners in laying garlands at the foot of the cross before blessing the crowd with holy water.
Despite occasional light rain, spirits remained high: children holding rosaries walked alongside elders, and tourists—many seeing the rite for the first time—paused to photograph each tableau. The event capped Holy Week in Cartago, reinforcing the area’s reputation for preserving colonial‑era religious heritage. As Hernández noted, “Our procession is not only a testament to faith but a living link to Costa Rica’s cultural identity, one we are proud to share each year.”
